Chong Zu is an assistant professor of physics and has just accepted our offer to become a fellow in the McDonnell Center for the Space Sciences. His research employs solid-state spin defects (e.g. nitrogen-vacancy centers in diamond) as quantum sensors for a wide range of applications. In alignment with the MCSS mission, his recent work includes using diamond quantum sensors to map remnant magnetism in Apollo lunar samples, visualize stress in materials under extreme pressure, and develop quantum-enabled X-ray detectors with enhanced spatial and energy resolution.

Zu received his B.S. in physics and mathematics from Tsinghua University in 2011. After completing his Ph.D. in Prof. Luming Duan’s group at Tsinghua University in 2016, he began postdoctoral work at UC Berkeley in Prof. Norman Yao's group. He joined Washington University as an assistant professor in the summer of 2021.